Music-leaf turner.



PATENTED MAY 12, 1908.

F. R. HARMAN. MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1907.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

wan use:

I No. 887,629. PATENTED MAY 12 1908.

F. R. HARMAN.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED $EPT. 4. 1907.

2 SHEET5-SHEET 2.

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Elvwantoz taken on the plane FRANK R. HARMAN, OF AKRON, OHIO.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908 Application filed September 4, 1907. Serial No. 391,304

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. HARMAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to music leaf turners, and it has for its object to provide a simple and eflective mechanism by means of which the leaves of a music book or of sheet music may be turned, one by one by means of a pedal operable by the performer and will thus be enabled to turn the leaves at the proper times without interruption of the performance and without necessity of depending upon an assistant to turn the leaves.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein ex- 'hibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied in operative position to the music rackof a piano. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken vertically through the casing of the apparatus in a plane parallel to the music support. Fig. 4 is a sectional view indicated by the line 44 in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse sec tional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 5 -5 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sec tional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line 6 6 in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail view of the slidable pawl used for actuating the turning mechan ism. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the pivoted end of' one of the leaf turning arms. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the outer end of one of the leaf turning arms and'the leaf holding clamp connected there with. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the arm actuating segments. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the means for operating the spring actuated retainingpawl for the purpose of disengaging the latter and restoring the parts of the device to initial position. Fig. 12 is a sectional detail view illustrating the pedal means for operating the device.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The principal mechanism of the improved music leaf turner is contained within a small flat casing l which may be suitably attached to the upper edge of the board 2 which constitutes the desk or supporting member of the music rack; a eleat 3 being preferably employed to make the connection secure.

The casing 1 is provided with a downward extending bracket 4 having a horizontal portion or shelf 5 which is approximately parallel to the bottom of the casing, said shelf and the bottom of the casing with apertures wherein is guided. a vertically are provide d slidable rod 6 having an enlarged portion constituting a ratchet bar 7 between which and the shelf 5 a spring 8 is coiled upon the rod 6, whereby the latter is normally forced in an upward direction within the casing until it abuts upon the top of the casing, within the latter. A slide 9 is supported for vertical movement upon the bracket 4, said slide being normally forced in an upward direction by means of a suitable spring 10," the slide 9 carries a spring pawl 11 that engages the ratchet bar 7, which latter, by the reciprocating movement of the slide, will be carried step by step in a downward direction; it being retained at each step by means of a resilient retaining pawl 12 which is suitably secured upon. the bracket .4. A rock shaft 13 which is supported for oscillation in the bottom of the casing and in the shelf 5 of the bracket is provided with a lever or finger piece 1% whereby it may be rocked or oscillated said rock shaft is also provided with a laterally extending lug 15 adapted for engagement with the resilient retaining pawl 12 which latter, by oscillating the rock shaft, may be moved to a non-engaging position with relation to the ratchet bar 7 thus permitting the latter and the rod 6 with which it is connected to move in an upward direction under the impulse of the spring 10 until the upper extremity of the rod 6 abuts upon the top of the casing, as previously set forth.

Pivotally supported upon a vertical shaft 16 within the casing 1 are a plurality of rack segments 17, each of which is provided with a leaf spring 18 suitably connected therewith and abutting upon a post 19. Another pin or shaft 20 within the casing supports a plurality of pivoted arms 21, each of which has a segmental toothed head 22 meshing with one of the rack segments 17 it being understood that stacks containing any desired number of the rack segments as well as of the pivotal arms may be used provided only that each arm is in engagement with a corresponding rack segment. i A pin or post 23 serves to limit the movement in one direction of the arms 21, it being understood that when the arms are in engagement with said pin or post the springs connected with the segments engaging the arms are held under tension, and the segments being retained in this position by means of the vertically movable rod 6 which extends through slots 2 1 formed in the segments. Then the rod 6 is moved one step in a downward direction, by the means provided for the purpose, as hereinbefore de scribed, the upper end of said rod. will become disengaged from one of the segment racks which will then swing, under the impulse of the spring 18 connected therewith, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thus swinging one of the arms 21 to the position likewise indicated in dotted lines where it will be arrested by means of a pin or stop member 25. It will be readily seen that by moving the rod 6 step by step in a downward direction the segment racks, one by one, will be released from said rod and will swing under the impulse of the springs connected therewith, thus swinging the arms 21, one by one, from one side of the casing to the other.

The arms 21 which are preferably constructed of flat strips of metal, may for convenience be quarter twisted as indicated in Figs. 5 and S of the drawings in order to enable said arms to be stacked conveniently side by side. Each of said arms is provided with a leaf engaging member consisting of a clamp 26 slidably engaging the arm upon which it is mounted and. provided with resilient jaws 27 adapted to be clamped. upon a leaf of a music book or of a piece of sheet music as the case may be.

The slide 9 carrying the pawl 11 whereby the rod 6 having the ratchet bar 7 is actuated, is adapted to be operated by means of a flexible element such as a string or wire 28 suitably connected therewith; the opposite end of said flexible element being connected with a finger piece 29 or, if preferred, with one end of a lever 30, the opposite end of which is con nected by means of a link 31 with a pedal 32 which, when depressed by the foot of the per former will exert a downward strain upon the flexible element 28 whereby the slide 9 will be moved in a downward direction to actuate the rod 6 as herein described, with the result of releasing one of the rack segments 17 and causing one of the leaf turning arms to be operated.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. The construction is simple and inexpensive, the operation of the device is certain and ell'ect ive, and it may be readily installed for operation at a very moderate expense.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is z" 1. In a leaf turning device, a stack of leaf turning arms having toothed heads, a stack of spring actuated rack segments engaging the arms and having slots formed therein, a movable rod extending through the slots in the stack of segments, and means for moving said rod step by step to release the segments one by one.

2. In a leaf turning device, a stack of leaf turning arms, a stack of spring actuated segments engaging and operating said arms, said segments being provided with. registering slots, a rod extending through the slots of the segments to secure the latter in position -with their actuating springs under tension, a

ratchet bar connected with the rod, and a re ciprocatory slide having a spring pawl engaging the ratchet bar to move the latter stop by step and to release the segments one by one.

3. In a leaf turning device, a stack of leaf turning arms, a stack of spring actuated seg ments engaging and operating said arms, a vertically movable locking bar engaging the segments to secure the latter with the actuating springs under tension, a ratchet bar connected with the locking bar, a reciprocatory spring actuated slide having a spring pawl engaging the ratchet bar to move the latter step by step, a spring tending to restore the locking member having the ratchet bar to initial position, a resilient retaining pawl engaging the ratchet bar, and a rock shaft supported for oscillation and having a lug engaging the retaining pawl to release the latter from engagement with the ratchet bar.

1. In a leaf turning device, a stack of leaf turning arms, a stack of spring actuated slotted segments engaging and operating the arms, means for retaining the segments with the actuated springs under tension, said means consisting of a step by step movable rod engaging the slots in the segments, means for retaining the step by step movable rod in adjusted position, means for releasing the retaining means, and spring means for restoring the rod when released from the retaining means to initial position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses,

FRANK R. llARlvlAN. WVitnesses I\IARY E. \VILLIAirs, JonN E. Jones. 

